Earlier this year AT&T announced that they will be offering tiered data plans to their customers. It was only a matter of time before their biggest competitor, Verizon Wireless, would do something similar. With a ever increasing number of smart phones on the market, the wireless companies, like Verizon, need to do something to ensure that data usage is not abused by some while barely used by others who are paying the same prices.

Verizon’s plans for tiered data usage will likely be more appealing to consumers than AT&T’s was. Already, Verizon Wireless subscribers who have an unlimited data plan are likely paying $29.95 per month for unlimited usage. This plan will not change. Verizon customers can still get unlimited data on their 3G smartphones for the same price, however, they will now be offered lower data usage plans as well. Below is a run down of all the data plans that the company will offer:

- 3G Smartphones Plans – $15 monthly access for 150 MB ($15/150 MB overage) or $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.
- 3G Feature Phones — $1.99 pay as you go or $15 monthly access for 150 or 150 MB ($15/150 MB overage) or $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.
- 3G Netbooks/Notebooks Built-In Plans – $50 monthly access for 5 GB ($10/1 GB overage) or $80 monthly access for 10 GB ($10/1 GB overage).
- MiFi 2200 and Five Spot Mobile – $50 monthly access for 5 GB ($10 /1 GB overage), $80 for 10 GB ($10/1G overage) or as part of a 90-day promotion $35 monthly access for 3 GB ($10/1 GB overage)
- 3G Tablet Plans – $20 monthly access for 1 GB ($20/1 GB overage), $35 monthly access for 3 GB ($10/ 1 GB overage); $50 monthly access for 5 GB ($10/1 GB overage) and $80 for 10 GB ($10/1G overage).

The new data plan rates will launch on October 28, which is much earlier than most analysts had expected. This move is expected to be seen as a good one for consumers, who now have the option of paying less for data if they only use it intermittently. Verizon Wireless has yet to announce these details officially. The company which employs over 222,000 people, headquartered in Lower Manhattan, had $107 billion in revenue last year alone. Other competitors like Sprint, and T-Mobile have yet to announce a tiered structure to their data plans. Industry insiders expect them to soon follow suit.